Brown Delighted With Brace

A brace from new-signing Alex Brown was just one major highlight from a sublime opening 5-2 victory against Corinthian Casuals at Hartsdown Park on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking after the match, Brown was delighted with the start. 

“I’m over the moon. It was the best game to start a season that I’ve ever had and to be five nil up at half time, we couldn’t have asked for better.” 

Margate’s summer-signing showed his quality to home fans nice and early in the season and talked through his two sublime strikes.

“As soon as I got the ball from Tommy Mills on the half way line, I had it in my head to cut in and shoot. And as soon as it left my boot, I knew it was going in.”

“And it was a similar thing for the one of my left. As soon as Frannie set me, I wanted to take the touch and shoot and sometimes you connect with them well and both flew in.”

The flying start drew a line under a packed pre-season schedule and Brown hopes the team can continue to benefit from the hard work undertaken during the off-season.

“Pre-season is always tough as the tempo and games aren’t as realistic as the League games. Steve Brown had a proper go at us after the Ramsgate game and the Corinthians performance put into perspective what we can really do.”

“At half time we wanted to go on, score some more goals and keep up the tempo but they pushed more players forward and we just slipped off it. We made some changes and the shape changed but I think if you’d had offered us 5-2 before the start of the game, we’d all have taken it.” 

Having joined the club from Dartford, Brown spoke about the draw to Hartsdown Park and how one phone call sealed his move to become a Blues player. 

“As soon as I got told I wasn’t available at Dartford, Mike rang me straight away and told me about the ambitions at the club and what he can offer me and what I can help achieve at Margate.” 

“As soon as I spoke to him, I had pretty much made my decision. I’m glad I signed to come down here because it’s been a really good start.” 

There’s a buzz around Margate at the moment and its something Brown and his team-mates will be determined to sustain for as long as possible. 

“The atmosphere is great in the dressing room, the result was exactly what we needed. It’s a good start which we want to continue.” 

It wasn’t just Brown who made his debut on Saturday, a slick new kit went down with players and supporters – and some members of the family too!  

“When we [the players] saw it, we were like ‘Is that the real Libertines?!’ or a fake one or something! I’m buzzing. My Uncle is a massive, massive fan and when I spoke to him about it, he couldn’t believe it – I may have to send him a shirt now! It’s a good step for the club and some great press too.”

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